In its latest research, Axiometrics Inc., a provider of data and advisory
services on the apartment market, reports that sequential rent growth in
February 2012 was the highest it has been since June 2011, with effective rent
(rent net of concessions) increasing by 0.66% from January to February.
Likewise, the national occupancy rate improved on a sequential basis for the
first time since August 2011, increasing from 93.36% in January to 93.57% in
February. This was the highest month-to-month gain since April 2011, and the
third highest in the last 18 months. The combined effective rent and occupancy
growth rates--0.87%--provide a potential monthly revenue growth figure, and
exceed every month since May 2011. Read the full Axiometrics press release.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Eric Engstrom, principal planner for “The Portland Plan” discusses how the plan will change the city’s future including items of interest to the city’s multifamily housing owners.

Download the final draft (161 pages) from the city's website. Please mark your calendar for Wednesday, Apr. 18, 2012, at 6:00
p.m., when City Council is scheduled to consider the Portland Plan - Recommended
Draft for adoption. There will be a presentation and overview of the plan at
6:00, followed by testimony from partners and members of the community at
6:30.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Every interaction with a resident will factor in to their renewal decision – it goes far beyond the dollar amount shown on their renewal notice. Have you fixed that stove repair request from unit 10? Read more in the Property Management Insider.

Monday, March 19, 2012

The City of Portland's proposed budget includes a proposed change to the business license exemption.

The exemption would be changed from "less than 10 units" to "less than $50,000 gross annually."

Every rental owner will have to file for a business license as a rental owner and can re-apply annually for an exemption if they gross under the $50,000 minimum. According to the Rental Housing Authority of Greater Portland, exemption requests do not apply to LLCs.

Whether it's trash or treasure is anyone's guess, but when one resident's comfort from having possessions leads to neighbors with pest infestations and odors... who hoards and why? And what should an apartment owner do? Read more in this month's issue of Units Magazine.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

The Oregon Employment Department reports that the Portland area unemployment rate has fallen below the nation's jobless rate for the first time in three and a half years. January's rate was 8.2 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate is 8.3 percent.

ApartmentRatings.com has long been considered the most controversial of the ratings websites out there. Many managers and owners consider it a hotbed for resident hostility. In a recent small scale survey distributed and compiled by Houston-based Multifamily Insiders, 58 percent of respondents said they felt they received a false rating. Read the full story at Multifamily Executive online.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

If you haven't already, make sure your resident screening and subsequent adverse action letters are complying with the letter of the Dodd-Frank legislation. Penalties are up to $3,500 per violation, so it's worth the time making sure your procedures comply. Read More.

Monday, March 5, 2012

In his State of the City address on Friday, Portland Mayor Sam Adams announced details of Langley Investment Properties' plans to build 750 apartments in the Lloyd District, The Oregonian's Elliot Njus reported on Friday. Read the Full Story.

(c) HFO Investment Real Estate, LLC

HFO Investment Real Estate LLC

2424 SE 11th Avenue

Portland, OR 97214 (503) 241-5541

Cody Hagerman, Principal Broker, licensed in Oregon & Washington

Portland-based HFO was founded in 1999 and specializes in the apartment sector of the commercial real estate market. The company is known for more than its ability to attract the largest possible pool of buyers. By offering additional client benefits including complimentary industry-specific events, market news, and original video programming via HFO-TV and Multifamily Marketwatch podcasts. HFO is a thought-leader within its category. From its inception, HFO has operated in sharp contrast to most of its industry competitors, using intra-office collaboration to provide service to more customers through sales velocity and loyal client relationships.